BOSTON (AP) On the heels of slow starts and lackluster offensive efforts in their first two playoff games, the Celtics knew they would need to play like a desperate bunch in their Game 3 matchup with the Hawks.

Boston did, and Isaiah Thomas delivered a career high 42 points in a 111 103 victory over Atlanta on Friday night that closed the gap to 2 1 in the Eastern Conference first round series.

Playing by far its best first half of the series, Boston led by as many as 20 points before seeing that mostly erased by a 12 0 run by the Hawks in the third quarter.

The Celtics then survived a frenetic fourth quarter that featured three ties and a pair of lead changes, finally getting separation with five straight points for a 104 98 lead.

Jeff Teague had 23 points for Atlanta. Kent Bazemore and Dennis Schroder each finished with 20.

In an effort to find some energy Cheap coach handbags following lethargic opening quarters in both Game 1 and 2, Celtics coach Brad Stevens tweaked his lineup Friday.

He started Turner in place of Marcus Smart, and Jonas Jerebko got the nod over Jared Sullinger.

It meant the Celtics were a much smaller team, but it also translated into a group that was a lot quicker and active in transition.

That showed early with the first points of the game coming via Jerebko on a tip dunk off Thomas' missed layup. Boston used the jolt to build its double digit first half lead.

"They hit a bunch of shots early, shots they Nfl jerseys china hadn't hit in the first two games and caught us on our heels Custom nfl jerseys a little bit," Hawks guard Kyle Korver said.

The Hawks whittled away at it with a balanced attack, but still shot just 12 percent from the 3 point line in the opening 24 minutes.

Along with the quickened offensive pace, tempers were tweaked times.

Most notably, Thomas and Schroder were issued double technical fouls following a brief face to face moment. Thomas had to be restrained by Sullinger.

Sullinger was called for a flagrant foul on Schroder later in the period. That was almost immediately followed by a flagrant foul on the other end by Paul Millsap on Sullinger.

Then, early in the fourth quarter, Schroder was issued a flagrant for a foul on Thomas.

Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer said though Thomas has clearly woken up the Celtics' offense, the Hawks will adjust.

"He had a heck of a night," Budenholzer said. "Can we do better? Yes."

What seems to have precipitated the dustup between Thomas and Schroder was an incident underneath the basket in the first quarter. Thomas can be seen in replays catching Schroder in the side of the head with his forearm as the Hawks' guard ran by.

Budenholzer said he expects the league will review the incident, but Thomas said he wasn't concerned, adding it was unintentional.

"I'm not, because I didn't mean to hit him in the head," Thomas said. "He got mad, he was talking. But it's playoff basketball, that's what it's about. I'm not gonna back down from anybody. And he knows that."

Hawks forward Kyle Korver said he is expecting action after a pre playoff league memo about not throwing punches.

"I guess we'll see what happens," he said.

Part of the inspiration for Thomas' big night came prior to the game via a pair of text messages from Pistons' great Isiah Thomas and soon to be Hall of Famer Allen Iverson.

"Allen Iverson just said 'Keep fighting. They did what they were supposed to do in Atlanta, now its' time for you guys to take advantage of being at home."" Thomas recalled. "Then Isiah Thomas, just gave me a few tips I can't tell you guys about. He told me what he has seen and he helped me out a lot.".